Authors: Karen Aldous
It had been almost a week since Cal had walked out, and he hadn’t got in touch. Was that a sign of his guilt, or had she got everything so completely wrong? Lizzie had learned from Sophie that he and Jack had managed to squeeze into a room at Charles’s flat which was still accommodating make-up artists. She felt dreadful throwing them out and knowing Domaine Margot still wasn’t habitable. She’d never felt so miserable and tired, she still had three more days to get through, and then, quite possibly each and every one of them at the salon were likely to drop; every day had been exhausting. She hadn’t been as prepared as she’d hoped. It was the clients who messed up the schedules but the consultants who suffered. As much as she and Josephine tried to remedy the slot times, the complaints were now coming in thick and fast. Lateness, rushed jobs and rudeness, mainly because tempers were fraying. Luckily, it didn’t affect Sophie’s clinical side of the business but she would definitely need to have a rethink on the beauty.
As she and Josephine managed the schedules that morning, Lizzie, feeling like a truck had run headlong into her face, leant across the reception counter and spoke in a low voice.
‘OK. I think next year we will only book in appointments with payment up front and, if they miss the slot, it’s the client’s loss. This is ridiculous. We can’t be everything to everybody. It just isn’t fair to the consultants. Not at this pace.’
Josephine offered a sympathetic smile. ‘That’s a great idea, Lizzie. Even if we get more girls in, at least you can spread them out. For the sake of losing a few bookings, we should run much more smoothly and our professionalism will be maintained.’
‘Yes, that’s what worries me. I know some of the clients aren’t happy but, overall, it could have been much worse had those consultants waited around for those divas. Too bloody lazy to get their arses out of bed or just swanning off for lunch without telling us, it’s so rude.’
‘Oh don’t get me started, Lizzie. They have no respect. It will be interesting. I suggest we send each client an email with our terms and conditions too and keep a pile in reception to hand out.’
Lizzie gave the counter a firm tap with her hand and raised her voice. ‘Bloody brilliant idea. That will sort the wheat from the chaff.’
Angus walked in at that moment with a half-eaten croissant in his hand and with his usual beam. Lizzie wondered how he managed to keep it constant. It never waned.
‘What’s all this, you be country folk too? I thought I be the only farmer’s son around ‘ere,’ he jested.
‘Actually, I be a farmer’s dorta,’ Lizzie jibed back.
Josephine’s eyes lit up as she chortled. ‘
Vous êtes fous.
’
‘Yes, we have to be mad to work here,’ Lizzie chimed at Josephine feeling a little brighter for a slice of humour, then glanced back at Angus. ‘I not be from the west counry doh!’
‘No me neither. Kent darling.
The Darling Buds of May
county, I believe.’ Angus bit into his croissant.
‘That was your father though. I’m from further north of the county. Darling Buds was Pluckley, further south, Ashford way I think,’ Lizzie said wondering if her geography was correct.
Angus shrugged with smiling eyes. ‘I’ve no idea, sounds very romantic though,’
‘It’s beautiful there. It’s a small world isn’t it?’
‘What are the chances eh, two farmers’ kids working in the beauty industry.’
Lizzie tilted her head. ‘Yes, I bet you set out to be a vet too.’
His smiley eyes widened. ‘Aye, that I did.’ They both laughed. ‘I’m off to treat the livestock.’
Lizzie walked across to the coffee machine temporarily housed in a corner of reception. She opted for an espresso. It was rather endearing talking about Kent again. She supposed she missed it in some ways, particularly her father and grandparents when it was a proper farm. Not that her father had always worked there. He was out on the tractor in the evenings mainly. She often watched him from her bedroom window, driving the tractor, with its bright lights guiding him as he worked. Now, it was hard to believe it resembled a French landscape of vineyards rather than heavily churned soil that contained wheat, or rape seed. Or turned to pasture for grazing. The flash of her father’s face brought a smile. Maybe it was the ruddy complexion that farmers acquired that made Angus so familiar. The bright eyes against the wind-burned cheeks. Angus was sweet but there was no doubt, she missed Cal terribly.
That said, her shoulders straightened. She was determined she and Thierry would return to their former status. As much as it was breaking her heart, she couldn’t bear seeing Thierry’s face when she told him Cal and Jack had to move to another house.
‘Jack and Cal don’t like our house any more,’ he had told his superheroes. She had, in the little time she’d had to reflect, concluded she would remain independent for the rest of her life. His silence, she reasoned, spoke volumes. He was guilty. He’d not denied it and instead accused her of making it up. Like his infidelity, it was a figment of her imagination. How stupid did he think she was? If only she didn’t miss him so much and could stop herself crying in private.
Sipping her coffee, she turned to resume her work back at her desk and, whoosh, collided into Sophie.
‘Whoa, so sorry,’ Sophie said holding her hands in the air. ‘How are you this morning?’
Lizzie stepped back balancing her coffee and caught her breath. ‘My fault, I should have watched where I was going. Tired but, in better spirits,’ Lizzie told her truthfully.
‘Any word from Cal?’
Lizzie rolled her eyes. ‘No. Of course not. I told you he can’t argue because he knows what I said is true.’
Sophie clenched her face. ‘Oh sweetheart, I thought he would have been in touch. He spoke to Charles yesterday evening actually, before I got home. Cal is going to move into Domaine Margot. It’s partially liveable now at least. Jack may stay on a while.’
‘Oh.’
‘I think Cal wants Jack to have a base. He’s going to his French classes every day. Anyway, Charles thought he might come and see you. Charles said Cal can’t understand why you would think he would go near Kelly. I tell you. He is innocent. Charles believes him. I believe him. OK, you probably had reasons to be suspicious because she is his ex, but apparently he made sure he stayed out of her way for your sake. He knew it would concern you. Go and see him, Lizzie, at least hear him out. He’s had a lot to deal with. And Charles did tell him you’d been worried too whilst he was away. I had obviously discussed my concerns about you with Charles.’
Lizzie stepped aside to allow a client past. ‘And I still can’t rid that image of them out of my head. And Cal didn’t even stay that night to explain. If he had nothing to hide, he would have stayed and worked at it then.’
‘Perhaps he was tired and couldn’t deal with it. After weeks of struggling with Jack, maybe he had to shut down. I don’t know, Lizzie. I’m guessing,’ Sophie sighed.
‘Hmm, he wasn’t in the best place. But,’ she shrugged, ‘I still feel physically sick when I think of all that time and opportunity they had to be together. Urghh, I can’t shake it just like that.’ Lizzie lowered her tone. ‘That first night with him, when he came back. Don’t get me wrong, it was great to have him back and exciting, but all the time in my head I had flashes of him thinking I was Kelly. I was just waiting for him to say her name.’
Sophie placed her arm around her shoulder. ‘Come here,’ she said hugging her. ‘You’ve certainly created a monster in there haven’t you? You and Cal need to take some time away together.’
‘He has Jack and…’
‘Maybe next week when it dies down here, you can get together and…’
‘I have my family coming over, remember? I’ve still a lot to do.’
‘Oh, yes, of course. Not great timing but, that’s so exciting.’ Sophie stepped back. ‘Well, at least if you’re not run into the ground here, you’ll have time to get your head back into its rightful place. Working flat out seven days a week isn’t healthy.’
‘No. I know. I’ll fill you in with some ideas for next year. We need to get that cellar done too. Anyway. How are you coping?’
‘Lizzie, it’s an absolute dream. But remember, I’ve been lucky having Angus here to help me out. I really couldn’t be happier. Yes it’s hard work but, wow, this has worked out beyond my wildest dreams. Maybe get Lucie to do more of the scheduling next year.’
‘I will. Anyway, we’ll have a catch-up, well if perchance we meet again this week. I’d better go and face the music.’
Sophie smiled with a nod and Lizzie returned to her station. She flicked through her emails and was pleased there was no sign of anything urgent or any complaints.
Three minutes later the phone rang. She listened for a moment expecting Lucie to make an announcement. All she heard was a rasping of breath.
‘Hello, Lizzie Lambert speaking. Can I help?’
A strange huff came down the phone and, losing patience, Lizzie almost slammed it down again.
‘Lizzie Lambert here.’
‘Aa…Angus.’
‘You want to speak to Angus?’ Lizzie frowned and held the phone closer to her ear.
The rasping got thicker. She deciphered another intake of breath.
‘Hhhmm. Mother,’
‘You’re Angus’s mother and you’ve been taken ill, to hospital maybe?’
‘Hhhh…h…yeh.’
‘Are you at hospital?’
‘Hh…no.’
‘I’ll get Angus to call you back urgently. No, wait there. I’ll get him.’
Lizzie dashed up to her office where Angus was with a patient. As she entered, relief swept over her as he held a buff file in his hand whilst his assistant was gently mopping the patient’s face.
‘My apologies,’ she said to the client. ‘Angus, please. It’s urgent.’ She waited for him to follow her out of the door. ‘Your mother is on my phone, she has difficulty breathing. Go and speak to her. She’s at home.’
Angus’s eyes searched her in panic.
‘Yes, quickly go. I’ll go back in with the client.’ She watched as he ran down the stairs and then returned to the room.
‘I’m so sorry but I’m afraid it’s an emergency.’ Lizzie ambled over looking at the client and then at Angus’s assistant.
‘Well, I’m finishing with Laura now. I’m just massaging in the filler but Angus is finished.’
Lizzie smiled. ‘That is a relief at least. I’m sure he’ll pop back in if he can. Are you happy with it, Laura?’
‘Absolutely fine. Yes. I hope everything’s OK?’
Lizzie grimaced and said, ‘Well, I’ll go and see. As long as you’re OK.’ She raced back down to her desk.
Angus held the phone whilst tapping his other hand on the surface of the desk. It was the first time she’d recalled the light missing from his eyes.
‘The ambulance has arrived,’ he told her. ‘I’m just waiting for the paramedic to come back to me, he’s looking at her now.’
‘Oh, goodness,’ she gasped then detected his eyes welled with tears. She reached for his arm and clutched it. Immediately grave memories returned of her own experience last year when she hadn’t a clue about her own mother’s condition. She took a deep breath. God knows what he must be going through. His mother must be seriously ill to have the paramedics there. She heard him swallow and peered back at his troubled face as he waited.
‘She had been to the doctor a few days ago and is on antibiotics but, clearly, they’re not working. God, she should know better than to leave it this long. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s pneumonia. She’s so bloody stubborn and won’t listen.’
She rubbed his arm gently. Not knowing was the worst. ‘I’m sure she’s in good hands now. She sounds like a strong woman.’
It was several minutes before the paramedic returned. Lizzie could almost feel his anguish but she couldn’t leave him. As he held the phone in one hand, he wrenched the other arm to his head, scratching hard.
‘Yes, yes. I’m here…Right… Shh… Hmm. I guessed. Tell her I’m on my way. I’ll get there as soon as I can.’ He paused as if trying to gather his thoughts. ‘And tell her I love her and, and stay strong.’
As Angus put the phone down Lizzie wasn’t sure whether to catch him. He looked ready to fall. ‘Sit down for a minute. I’ll pull over another chair and get us a coffee.’ She picked the phone back up and rang reception. ‘Lucie, could someone bring two coffees to my desk. Bring some sugar too. Please.’
‘Oh, Lizzie, sorry. I put that weird person through earlier. Whoever it was had rung a few times and I put the phone down twice. Was it a heavy breather? The phones were going and…’
‘I’ll explain later, Lucie.’
Pulling over the only spare stool, Angus had done as he was told and she sat beside him.
‘Let’s look for a flight,’ she said taking the mouse and turning the keyboard and screen towards her.
Angus looked down at his knees and then rubbed his hands on them. His chest enlarged and he let out a large sigh.
‘I can’t believe it. She’s never been ill in her life. It’s serious. Her chest doesn’t sound good. They’re taking her straight down for x-ray. They suspect pneumonia.’
‘Oh dear, I’m sorry to hear that. She is fit otherwise though?’
‘As far as I know.’
Lizzie stepped to one side of the computer. ‘Actually, you would be better searching for a flight. You know where you’re going.’
Angus perched on her chair. ‘Look, I’m sorry, this leaves you…’
‘Angus, don’t even go there. We’ll sort something out. In fact, you just get yourself back to your mum. I’ll go and see Josephine now and find out what’s what.’
‘Thank you. I appreciate that.’ Angus turned the screen and keyboard back to face him.
Lucie arrived with coffees and Lizzie took one from her and placed it on the desk, then took the sugar and spoon, placing it beside the cup.
‘Just in case.’
Angus waved, managing half a smile. ‘No. It took me long enough to give it up.’
‘What you mean is, you’re sweet enough,’ Lizzie said feeling her cheeks blush.
She could kick herself. He probably thought she was flirting, and it certainly wasn’t the appropriate time. She did feel a strong empathy for him though. She was sure he said he was the only child. And his mother never married. It would be difficult for him to have to cope with things alone. Was it so wrong to make him feel someone was on his side and cared? She raced out to reception.